CULTIVATE COMMUNITY
How I Found Roots in San Antonio's Urban Ag Scene, Plus 24 Places to Get Your Own Start! by Hannah Rhodes In the summer of 2020, we all experienced something big. The pandemic, including its threat to our individual and collective health, left many of us isolated, lonely and scared. Summer protests over the murder of George
Flowers from Garcia Street Urban Farm
Floyd galvanized many of us to connect in new and old ways, whether on social
These moments of experiencing
media or masked and in the streets.
Steven’s city were so special when we
Amidst these and other crises, I planned
were getting to know one another, but I
to move from Austin to San Antonio.
could not see how San Antonio would be
Even though San Antonio was just down
my home now that we would be living
the road from Austin, I was uncertain of
together, especially in the middle of a
how I could possibly find a meaningful
pandemic.
community during this time. I was excited at the prospect of a new With my boyfriend Steven, I made plans
city and the next chapter of my
to move to San Antonio early in 2020.
relationship with Steven, but I also felt
Steven was born and raised in San
nervous. Like others, when the pandemic
Antonio, and he moved back after we
began, I spent my time either in my
graduated from Texas A&M, where we
apartment, or within just a few steps of
first dated. I enjoyed visiting him and
it. The summer passed slowly and then
growing close with his family, and I loved
all at once as the world seemed to erupt
learning to see San Antonio through his
around us. I planned to move during
eyes. He was giddy to drive me around
what seemed the most uncertain of
his former school and take me to eat at
times, but the move fell into place.
his family’s favorite restaurants.
Steven and I found a place to live, and
56 | Fall 2021 | Cultivate SA
